Ign Switch Failure examination 91 B3

FYI and it was interesting to me! ;-)
I had my 91 Passat ign switch give signs of failing on me.........while turning
the key the idiot lights would disappear briefly.
I installed a new, but aftermarket, ign. switch which had trouble with the
starter operating at times. yuck!
WELL..................
I took the old switch apart, a very easy operation, to see what had failed in
it. I did not see what I had expected to see. I expected carbon buildup from
arcing. This was not the case with this switch. I found one spring that
probably lost it's tension due to possibly heat, and actually fell out in
pieces. I did not see any real heat damage to the plastic of this switch
though.
So I had a failed ign switch (86 A2) that I also took apart. This one had the
carbon buildup but the spring that I needed was in excellent shape.
I cleaned up the contacts, replaced that broken spring, reassembled the switch
and installed it. What a great feeling to see this switch working properly
again, at least for the moment. lol

I will probably purchase a switch from the dealer and keep in the glove box in
case my repaired one ever fails. :-)
AND I will ask my parts guy about this aftermarket ign switch that did not work
well from day 1!!! :-(

BTW if anyone else attempts this, there are several small springs along with
metal contacts that could fall out so work on a surface that allows you to
catch these small pieces. I held the switch with the electrical terminals up
with the part that gets rotated with the key down. Assembly is also relatively
easy once you put all those little pieces back in place and snap the switch
back together. You only need to pry the clips in the round section.

later,
dave


later,
dave
Reminder........
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way,
when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them, and you have their
shoes. Frieda Norris